CHAPTER 5
FRIDAY AFTERNOON: BOSTON
"So is your Dad coming back this weekend?" Lauren asks
"He said he plans too. If he does he won't be here until late tonight." Emma says slamming her locker shut. "I can't wait."
"What are you doing after school?"
Emma shrugs "Not sure. Guess I'll see after class."
HOUSE
Martha opens the front door and smiles when she sees the large black man fully dressed in black. "Mobius."
"Hello Martha." He enters the house dropping his duffle bag by the door.
"Ian didn't tell me you were coming."
"He doesn't know. Where is he?"
"Mr. Irons called him back to New York to take care of something and he ended up staying on as the new head of security for Vorschlag."
"And Emma?"
"She's at school right now." Martha informs him. "I'm supposed to pick her up in half an hour. Why don't you pick her up?" She suggests
"Are you sure?"
"Sure. Emma would love to see you."
"I'll pick her up then."
HALF HOUR LATER: SCHOOL
Emma grins seeing her 'uncle' leaning against a car in the school parking lot. She hurries down the steps to where Mobius is. "Mobi" She says happily, as she barrels into him.
Mobius hugs the teen lifting her off her feet. "How are you Em?" He sets her down.
Emma smiles at him "What are you doing here?"
"I came to see my favorite niece." He opens the passenger door and Emma gets in.
Once in the car Emma sets her backpack at her feet. When Mobius gets into the drivers side she speaks "Dad's in New York."
"Martha told me." Mobius starts the car "I thought we'd go climbing in the quarry for a while before dinner."
"OK." Emma grins as he pulls out of the parking spot. "Where have you been?"
"Around. How have you been?"
"Good but I miss Dad."
"I know you do. You two are rarely apart." He glances at Emma then back to the road. "Do you remember when you first met the unit?"
"No."
"I was the first in the unit to meet you. Your Dad and I were in the barracks and in your Grandfather walks with this little girl with her hair in pigtails. The second you saw your Dad you broke away from your Grandfather barreling into your Dad."
"I don't remember that." Emma says sadly
"You weren't even four." Mobius says with a faint smile. "You managed to get all of the guys to fall for you. We all adored you by the end of the day and we looked forward to your visits."
"I don't get it Mobi. Dad lets me go with him pretty much everywhere but New York."
"You know he just wants to keep you safe and happy."
"I know but still I have to spend time with the bastard."
"Look your Dad has his reasons for everything."
"I know."
"Your climbing clothes are in the back."
"Cool."
SAME TIME: VORSCHLAG
"You wanted to see me sir?" Ian asks walking into Kenneth's office.
"Yes. I need you to stay in New York this weekend."
Ian grits his teeth. "Yes sir." He nods
"The CEO of VanDisburg will be in town for a couple meetings this weekend. Make sure there will be enough security for this meeting."
"Yes sir." Ian nods walking out of the office. Once in the hallway he removes his phone from his pocket dialing Emma's number.
"Dad" Emma greets happily. "Guess what?"
"What?" Ian asks smiling faintly at his daughter's excited tone.
"Mobi's back."
"Good. Can I talk to him?"
"Sure." Emma hands Mobius her phone.
"Hello brother." Mobius greets
"Hello my friend. What are you doing there?"
"Decided I needed a break and I thought I'd come visit my niece." Mobius pulls the car up to a pizzeria. "Emma, why don't you go get yourself a snack while I talk to your Dad." He hands the teen a couple bills.
"OK." Emma takes the bills hopping out of the car she heads into the pizzeria.
"What is going on brother?" Mobius demands
"I need to stay here this weekend."
"And there is something else in regards to I don't know... Emma's mother. I know that's why you don't take her with you to New York."
"Yes." Ian admits as he sits at his desk. "One of the department heads at Vorschlag was killed last week. Father called me in to look into the death but he declined to tell me Sara is the Detective in charge of the investigation until I arrived."
"Ouch." Mobius says sympathetically. "Have you told Emma?"
"No."
"Have you told this Sara?"
"That I have Emma... no. I have tried but we keep getting interrupted by work."
"Is that why you never allow Emma in New York? You worry her mother will see her?"
"Yes." Ian admits. "Emma looks like both of us and I don't know if Sara would be able to see it."
"Do you really think she'd be able to figure out that Emma is her child? It has been over fourteen years."
"I don't know but I do know I can't risk Sara finding out like that. She would never forgive me. I will tell her... soon." Ian leans his head back his eyes on the ceiling. "I don't know how to tell either of them Mobi."
"You better figure that out my friend." Mobius says as he watches his 'niece' walk out of the pizzeria with a piece of pizza and a drink.
"How long are you going to be in Boston?"
"I'm not sure. I just finished a job a few days ago." Mobius answers as Emma gets into the car. "Emma's back."
"If you're staying keep an eye on her huh?"
"Sure." Mobius assure "Here Emma" He hands the phone back to the teen.
Emma takes the phone. "Hi Dad."
"Hello Emma." He takes a deep breath. "Em I have some bad news."
Emma swallows blinking back tears "You're not coming back this weekend."
"Not this weekend." Ian acknowledges saddened by her tone. "I'm sorry Em but something last minute came up."
"But you promised"
"I know Em and I'm sorry but I have no choice."
"Fine."
"I'll try to come up next weekend." 'Hopefully with your Mom.'
"Why bother we both know he's going to come up with another reason to keep you there." Emma hangs up on her Dad before he can say anything.
Getting the dial tone Ian shakes his head "Just like her mother." He mutters returning his phone to his suit pocket. 'I'll call her once she calms down.'
"Emma" Mobius says disapprovingly. "You don't hang up on your Dad."
Emma stares at the piece of pizza blinking back tears while chewing on her lower lip. "I want Dad to come home."
"He will Em." He pats Emma's leg. "He always comes back to you. He promised you that he would when you first came to see him at the barracks."
"What happened?"
"When your Grandfather came to pick you up you started crying and saying you wanted him to go home with you. You wouldn't release your Dad so he took you outside. Later he told me what he said, he promised you that he wouldn't let anything keep you two apart and that he would always come back to you." He smiles slightly "We all made sure he kept that promise. You are the most important person in his world."
"I miss my Dad."
"I know you do. I'm betting he misses you as well."
"Mobi?" Emma looks at her uncle.
"Yes?"
"What do you know about my Mom?"
"Not much." Mobius admits. "He rarely mentions her but I do know he loved her and I'm pretty sure he still does."
"Oh."
"Now how about we go climbing?"
"OK."
9PM: 1111 FAUST
"Well?" Kenneth looks up as Ian enters the study.
"Everything has been taken care of."
"How did the girl take the news?"
"Emma" Ian stresses, "took it as well as she could to me breaking my promise."
"Never promise anyone anything Ian."
"There are times you need to make promises Father." Ian walks out of the room heading to his quarters. Entering his room, he goes over to the desk opening a drawer he removes a framed picture of he and Emma. He smiles slightly removing his phone from his suit pocket dialing the house as Martha picks up he says hello.
"Hello Ian."
"Is Emma there?"
"She's been moping since she and Mobius returned from climbing."
"Still upset?"
"Very. Mobius tried getting her to cheer up with a movie with major destruction and explosions but it didn't work. We tried candy as well. Nothing worked."
Ian closes his eyes "Think she'll talk to me?"
"She rarely stays mad at you." Martha reminds "Just a minute."
Upstairs Emma sits on her bed staring out the window as she hears a knock at her closed door. "What?"
Martha enters the bedroom "Emma your Dad's on the phone."
Emma picks up the bedside cordless phone pressing talk. "Hi."
Martha hangs up the phone in her hand and walks out of the room.
"Emma I know your upset."
"You promised Dad."
"I know I did baby and I'm sorry I had to break it."
"I'll deal." She sighs heavily.
"What did you do with Mobius this afternoon?"
"We went climbing in the quarry."
"Did you have fun?"
"Yes."
"Good."
"Are you going to come home next weekend?"
"I'm going to try my best."
"OK."
"Now how was school?" Ian asks listening intently as Emma tells him about school and her time with Mobius.
CHAPTER 6
SUNDAY EVENING: SARA'S APARTMENT
Sara looks at Ian as he lies partially under her. Sara leans up kissing him lightly she silently slips out of bed and grabs her robe off the back of a chair. As she ties the belt Sara walks down the three steps and heads to the kitchen well aware Ian is watching her. 'I have to tell him. I can't keep having sex with him if I don't tell him. It's not fair to him.' She absently pours herself a cup of coffee and sticks the mug in the microwave barely keeping from bursting in tears as she leans against the counter as a few tears slide down her cheeks.
Ian gets out of bed grabbing his boxers he pulls them on and makes his way to the kitchen. He steps up behind Sara "Sara?" He gently touches her shoulder.
Sara wipes at the tears on her cheeks. "Ian there's something I have to tell you." She turns looking at him.
Ian wipes at a stray tear with his thumb. "I have something I have to tell you too."
"I have to tell you first before I lose my nerve."
Ian nods "All right."
Sara steps away from Ian. 'Where do I start?' She silently asks herself as she runs her fingers through her hair. After a few moments of silence she speaks, "Ian that afternoon we made love was the most... intense, incredible afternoon in my life."
"I know."
Sara looks at him. "I loved you Ian... a big part of me still does." She looks away "For years Aras and Joe tried convincing me I wasn't in love with you and after a while I just allowed them to think they had convinced me." She bites on her lower lip. "But I know after all that happened I did love you regardless of what I let them believe." She leans against the counter. "Four weeks after that afternoon I found out something..."
"Sara"
"Ian you said you'd let me finish."
Ian sighs "All right." 'I need to let her get this out.'
Sara takes a deep breath. "Four weeks after we made love... I found out I was pregnant." She slides to the floor staring at the wall blinking back tears.
"Sara" Ian sits beside her.
Sara ignores him and continues talking. "I wanted to tell you so bad then moment I found out." She closes her eyes tears falling. "I gave her up Ian."
'I didn't.' He shoves his thoughts aside his arm going around her shoulders. "Shh." He blinks back his own tears as he hugs her.
Sara leans into him her body shaking as she sobs. "I gave her up." She sobs, "I'm so sorry." She buries her face in his neck.
"Shh I understand." Ian rocks her allowing his own tears to fall feeling her pain yet feeling relieved to know his beloved thinks about their daughter. "It's OK." He soothes stroking her back.
Sara lifts her head seeing the tears in his eyes she winces. "I'm so sorry Ian. I wanted to keep her but they wouldn't let me. They took her from me... I never got to see her." She looks away. "I'm sorry Ian." She bursts into tears.
"Shh" He soothes rocking Sara as she sobs clinging to him.
"I'm so sorry." Sara chokes out between sobs.
Ian sits on the kitchen floor rocking Sara as she cries herself to sleep. As her breathing evens out Ian carefully stands with Sara in his arms and carries her up to the bed. He sets her in bed about to join her when he hears his phone ring. He hurries over to the couch where his overcoat is, grabbing his phone before it can ring again, and flips it open. "Yes?"
"Get back here." Kenneth orders
Ian swallows at his Father's tone. "I'll be right there." He hangs up looking over at Sara in her bed then goes over to the desk in the corner he finds a piece of paper and quickly writes her a note. He sets the note on the nightstand and quickly dressing before he kisses her forehead. "I love you Sara." He whispers. "We'll talk soon... I promise." A minute later, he is out the door.
20 MINS LATER
Ian enters the study where he finds his Father standing at the fireplace a glass in hand. Ian swallows heavily knowing what that means.
"You were with her." Kenneth states his voice hard as he looks at Ian.
Ian looks down only to have Kenneth force him to look at him. He meets his Father's gaze head on. "Yes I was with her." He admits only to be backhanded across the face in response.
"You will cut this relationship off." Kenneth orders stepping back. "I will not support another of your bastards."
Ian flinches at his Father's words and lifts his eyes. "Don't ever call Emma that!" He says angrily. "I will put up with many things from you Father but don't ever call Emma that."
"It's the truth. You ruined your life over that girl and then that child."
"If you hadn't sent me away, I would have married Sara the second she told me she was pregnant."
Kenneth snorts. "You think I would have allowed that Ian?" He slams his fist into Ian's stomach doubling the younger man over.
"I won't stop seeing Sara." Ian manages to get out as he gasps for breath. Suddenly he finds himself falling, his head hitting the wall with a CRACK and through his haze, he feels blows rain over his body. He blacks out after a few kicks to his ribs his last thought of Emma.
"Kenneth, stop!" Doctor Immo calls from the doorway as he sees his employer/patient viciously beating his obviously unconscious 'son'.
Kenneth steps back looking at Ian lying on the floor. After a moment, he turns walking out of the study.
Immo hurries to the young man sighing in relief when he notices Ian is still breathing.
James the butler enters moments later. "How bad is he?"
"I need to get him downstairs to check him out." Carefully the two men manage to get Ian off the floor.
WHILE LATER
"How bad is he?" James inquires
"Bad." Immo sighs looking at Ian unconscious on the exam table. "A couple bruised ribs, his whole body is going to be black and blue. He's unconscious from the blow to the head."
"Will he be OK?" James asks concerned.
"I won't know until he wakes up."
"Miss Emma will be very upset."
"You know Ian doesn't want Emma to know of these incidents."
James nods "I will contact her Nanny."
"Good. Where is Kenneth?"
"He is in the library."
Immo nods walking out of the lab.
SAME TIME: BOSTON
"How is she?" Mobius asks Martha as she walks out of Emma's bedroom.
"She's not hysterically crying."
"Her dream must have been bad." Mobius states
"Were you able to reach Ian?"
"He's not answering." Mobius answers. "There is only one reason he wouldn't answer."
"He hurt him again."
Martha and Mobius look towards Emma's bedroom. "Emma you need to get some sleep."
"I'm going to sleep in Daddy's room." Emma trudges to the bedroom across the hall from hers. She crawls under the covers pulling them tight around her. "Daddy." She sniffles.
Martha sighs, "If something happens to him it will destroy her."
"I don't think Kenneth will kill him... Ian is too important to him."
"Some way for him to show it." Martha says bitterly.
NEW YORK
"You almost killed him Kenneth." Immo states as he walks into the library.
"He'll be fine. My boy heals fast." Kenneth states calmly as he takes a sip of coffee.
"He's unconscious, has a couple bruised ribs, and bruises. Luckily the blow to the head didn't break any skin so he avoided stitches."
"How long will he be out of commission?"
"I won't know until he wakes up." Immo answers. "Kenneth you have to stop beating him like that... you could have killed him!" Immo turns on his heel striding out of the study.
Kenneth remains silent taking a sip of his coffee.